Categories

Meta

Sword Logic

Sword Logic

Destiny Lore

Welcome back guardians, my previous video covered the Book of Sorrows Verse 2 and introduced the idea of Sword Logic. At the time of posting that video I did not realise the heated debate that raged in forums about what exactly Sword Logic is. Today’s video will present these different opinions and of course my own interpretation of Sword Logic using evidence from the grimoire cards. I will be using information from Verse 2 and 3 in the Book of Sorrows, in order to limit spoilers for those following my Book of Sorrows series. A detailed video about Verse 3 will be released very soon for those hungry for more details. Also, please stay to the end, I have an important question to ask you regarding the direction of my channel.

As you know, I read all the comments and this has to be my favourite definition of Sword Logic left by subscriber Killerpossum195-

“Let me explain why sword logic is BS. I’ve killed Atheon. I’ve killed Crota. Yet I can’t kill Oryx. Now according to sword logic I should be able to right. Wrong, to do that you need money logic. You must sacrifice $40 to the Deep to gain enough power to kill Oryx.”

The first definition of Sword Logic that I have read about, is that it doesn’t make you stronger or more powerful but it is rather a concept that defines the Universe. Reddit user Mordenn summarises this very nicely;

“Sword Logic isn’t a system of magic that somehow makes you more powerful the more you kill. If anything, it’s the exact opposite: You kill to show you were more powerful than what you killed, and therefore more worthy of existence. You’re not gaining power by destroying your opponent, you’re showing that you were more powerful all along.”

It’s predicated on the philosophy of the Deep, as described to Aurash in the Book of Sorrows: The idea that life, all life, is the struggle for existence. Therefore, the only meaning in life is being able to assert and protect that existence. Anything else is a distraction, at best.

Sword Logic is the natural extension of that idea. If all that matters is asserting the right to exist, then we should constantly test that right by fighting everyone we come across. If we kill them, it means we were more powerful and deserve to keep existing. If we lose, then we weren’t worthy of existing in the first place and deserved to be wiped out. Either way the Universe will be moving a step closer to the ‘final form’ that the Deep and Toland describe: a universe dominated by a force that has mastered existence so fully that other life can only exist by its will alone.”

The second definition of Sword Logic that I have read, is that it does make you more powerful and that killing increases your power. In addition to increasing your own power, Sword Logic involves a Sword and the Sword itself becomes more powerful, morphing and changing with the act of Killing.

An aritcle on Twinfinite by Ian Lepkowsky has very nice summary of this interpretation.

“In the way of the Hive, there is no difference between Love and Death. This is part of what the Hive refer to as their sword logic. For the Hive, to be killed is to be shown their weaknesses, giving them a chance to learn from them and become stronger. For the Hive, there is no greater gift than death.

But the Hive do not become greater only through death. They also become greater through killing. What’s special about a Hive sword is that it drinks the light of all that it kills. It takes in its energy and becomes stronger. It becomes bigger. And its hunger multiplies infinitely.

With enough strength, a Hive’s sword can cut through the fabric of space and time, opening portals into new dimensions.”

These are the two main definitions I have seen discussed, however before moving onto my own opinion is that there is another concept mentioned in the Book of Sorrows called the Killing Logic. There is a nice post by AnonPig on the Bungie Forums explaining the difference between Sword logic and Killing Logic. I will explain this later in the video.

This is what I believe Sword Logic is, I agree with the Twinfinite article and that it does make you more powerful and here is the evidence for this;

Verse 2:2- Out of the Deep from the Book of Sorrows is one of the first mentions of “logic”. The three sisters, Auryx, Savathun and Xivu Arath have made a bargain with the Worms and seek revenge on Taox. Xivu Arath the warrior is tasked with tracking Taox to Kaharn Atoll and slaughtering everyone at the location. The card says this

“Overwhelm the Kaharn bastion. Slaughter everyone there. From your acts we shall obtain the logic we require to cut space open and migrate to orbit.”

Whilst this verse doesn’t specifically say Sword logic, it does hint at the use of a blade and also describes how the act of slaughtering everyone will give them enough power to cut space open.

Verse 2:6 The Sword Logic refers more specifically to the use of a blade. The Worm God Akka is speaking to Auryx. It says this “We will not give you the Deep, King Auryx — that power is for us, your gods. But we will teach you to call upon that force with signs and rituals. Kill a hundred of your children with a long blade, Auryx, and observe the change in the blade. Observe how the universe shrinks from you in terror. Your existence begins to define itself.”

This verse reinforces that Sword Logic does make you more powerful and performing these rituals with a Sword, killing others, even you own children, draws power from the Deep. In addition, the blade itself begins to change.

Verse 3:1 An incision, explains how a Hive Sword charged with death can cut holes through dimensions. Auryx’s sister, Savathun says this,

“I have studied the wounds cut by the Worm our God. Also I have studied the manner of your death and return. These two things are the same, for they are predicated on death and the passage through cut spaces. Let us practice the sword logic until we are sharp. We may then cut our own wounds and step through.”

Xivu Arath, who is the Knight Morph and whose nature is to be constantly at War says this,

“I am already sharp, look, my sword cuts into another space. And she cut her way between moons through green fire and joyous screams.” Auryx then says, “this is where I went when I died. Let us establish our thrones here. For I am Auryx the First Navigator and I shall chart death. And my throne shall be carved of osmium.”

So you can see that Xivu Arath, the Knight Morph, has alread killed and slaughtered many beings and his Sword already has the power to cut holes in dimensions. And they cut a hole into the afterlife, the place where Auryx went when he died. This becomes the Hive Netherworld where they establish their Thrones.

This concept, that it is not just the wielder who becomes more powerful, but the Sword itself increase, and even takes on a persona, is further reinforced by an original grimoire card, which I believe is narrated by Toland. The “Ascendant Sword” card says this,

“Let me give you a gift, Eris. Let me tell you about the power in the logic of the sword: A Shredderor a Boomer is a powerful weapon, but it kills acyclically. You see? It sends out harm and it takes nothing back. The bolt passes away into nothing. A sword, though, a sword is like a bridge, a crossing-point. The sword binds wielder to victim. It binds life to death. And when the binding is done—the sword remembers. When the Boomer’s fire has burnt away into axion and neutrino scatter, the sword goes on, hungrier and sharper. Understand that this nightmare logic underpins His nightmare world, and you will see why the ascendant blade has so much power there. Whenever in our passage we find ourselves in need of power—remember that the greatest authority here is a blade made keen by eons of use. This is the world the Hive craves: a universe creased by the edge of the sharpest sword.”

At this point, it is important to make a difference between the worms inside the Hive and Sword Logic because they are quite easily confused. I do not believe they are the same, the Worms inside the Hive need them to follow their nature, they need to be long-sighted, cunning and strong and continue to kill in order to satisfy their worms. The Sword Logic can be used as a tool to satisfy the worms.

In Verse 3:6, Star by Star by Star, Auryx, Savathun and Xivu Arath have reached a point where they are unable to satisfy the hunger of their worms. Savathun says this

“I plot and plan. But I cannot gather enough bloodshed to feed my worm. And the harder I try, the hungrier it becomes.” Xivu Arath says “I slaughter and kill but the harder I fight, the more my worm demands. I too am at my end.” Auryx also says that the “The Ecumene war angels have killed me so many times, that I dare not go out into the universe, lest I need my might to protect myself. My worm chews at my soul in hunger.”

It appears that this race, the Ecumene, and these warriors Ecumene war angels have been very successful at stopping the Hive crusade and continue to kill Auryx. Auryx devises a plan to increase his power and he kills his sisters. Verse 3:6 says this

“I know a way,” King Auryx says. “But it will require great power. More power than any one of us can claim.” “Then kill me,” says Xivu Arath, “and use that killing logic, the power you prove by killing something as mighty as me.” So King Auryx took up his blade and beheaded Xivu Arath. “And strangle me,” says Savathûn, holding a blade behind her back. “Use that killing logic, the cunning you prove by killing something as smart as me.” But King Auryx turned with the speed and might of Xivu Arath, and beheaded Savathûn before she could move. King Auryx was the First Navigator, with the map of death. These were true deaths, for they happened in the sword world. Then he went to the Worm named Akka.”

There are a couple of really important points here. Firstly, it introduces Killing Logic. This is the first and last time that “Killing logic” is mentioned in the book of sorrows. My understanding of Killing Logic is this, it just means you have proven that you are stronger or more cunning than something else. Killing Logic doesn’t give you power it just proves that you were more powerful all along.

I believe this scene, where Auryx kills both his sisters, involved Killing Logic but also involved Sword Logic. Auryx used a Sword to kill Xivu Arath, this increased his power instantly, this is demonstrated when

“Auryx turned with the speed and might of Xivu and beheaded Savathun.” It is like Auryx absorbed Xivu Arath’s power.

Interestingly, Savathun, the cunning was going to betray Auryx, she had a knife behind her back and this is why she says to Auryx for him to strangle her, if he did, she would have killed him with the knife and gained Auryx’s power. However, true to the Killing Logic, Auryx is more cunning than Savathun and he proved this by decapitating her.

Verse 3:6 continues, Auryx now has the power of Xivu and Savathun and heads to confront the Worm Akka. When Auryx finds Akka he demands that Akka share the secretes of the Deep, Auryx wants the power of the Deep, not just the signs and rituals, but I direct line with the Deep and its power. Akka refuses, Auryx responds with,

“You worship the Deep which asks that we take what we need. But you gave us your larvae, the worm, and that is why the worm devours us now: because it was given, not taken. So I must take what I need from you, although you are my god.”

Akka responds,

“You have not the strength”, the card continues, “But this was a lie. Auryx had killed Savathûn his sibling and Xivu Arath his sibling, and he had the sword logic of killing them. Auryx the First Navigator set upon his god with his sword and his words, and cut Akka to pieces, and took from those pieces the secret of calling upon the Deep. He wrote this secret on a set of tablets, which he called the Tablets of Ruin. And he wore them about his waist. Then Auryx said, “Now I may speak to the Deep, the beautiful final shape. I will be King of Shapes. I will learn all the secrets of our destiny.”

At this point, Auryx, becomes Oryx, the Taken King.

So once again, it reinforces that Sword Logic DOES grant you power, as Auryx had increased his power allowing him to challenge his God Akka, and he also killed Akka with a sword. The secret he gained from this allowed him to directly speak with and call upon the Deep. Previously, the hierarchy was this, The Deep, The Worm Gods, then Auryx, likewise for guardians it is, The Sky, The Traveler, and then Guardians. Power flows down the line from the Deep and The Sky. Auryx has moved himself one step up the ladder and now speaks directly with the Deep and channels its power.

I believe that using Sword Logic has a two-fold effect on the Hive, this ritual works in perfect unison with the Worms. Auryx has a worm inside him who he feeds through conquering the universe, this in turn makes Auryx more powerful, the more powerful he is, the more the worm demands of him, a way of satisfying this hunger and power is by using Sword Logic. Through slaughtering his enemies with a blade, he gains their abilities, strength and cunningness, increasing his power, whilst also satisfying his worm, therefore increasing his power again. Not to mention that the Sword grants the ability to cut through space and dimensions, which allowed Oryx to create his Throne World.

In future episodes, I will explore this concept more and how it relates to us, Guardians, and if we can make sense of that last infamous cut scene.

Before you go I want to ask for you honest opinion about something I have been thinking about for a while. I have seen other Destiny channels speak about doing the same thing and I am keen for your opinion. Star Wars Battlefront, I am actually really excited to play this game and today I dabbled in some Star Wars lore and was absolutely frothing at the mouth. For once, I was the subscriber, instead of the Youtuber and I loved being immersed into the Star Wars Universe and it made me really excited for the game. For those who watched my Q & A video, that was part of the motivation for my channel, to immerse people into a Universe through story telling.

So the question is, would you like to see me make some Star Wars Battlefront Lore videos? Keep this in mind, I would still aim to complete at least one Destiny Lore video per week. I am well aware that the Star Wars Universe is extremely complex and deep, and an area that I am not particularly skilled in, however I think you guys have seen that I research my videos extremely thoroughly and I am confident I could at least cover the basics. On top of that, I would probably want a Star Wars fanatic, to proof my scripts just to make sure there was nothing incorrect, as I am well aware getting the basics wrong is burn worthy! I don’t think it would be a long term series either, more about providing just enough information about the Star Wars Universe to give context and meaning, for massive Star Wars fans you will already have this, but I am sure there will be an equal number of people who will play the game and don’t have that knowledge. One thing Destiny has taught me, is that understanding the Universe and the characters brings more enjoyment when playing the game.

Be sure to leave a comment, as I do read them and I appreciate any feedback. Once again, it has been a pleasure, this Myelin Games. Peace.